‘Create mechanism to ensure CBSE schools follow NCERT’

Justice N Kirubakaran on passing interim orders on a plea moved by advocate M Purushothaman that additional subjects were thrust upon CBSE students, said, “When the NCERT has prescribed only limited subjects to young children, it is not known how the CBSE allows its affiliated schools to have more subjects for the students.” 

Also, on recording the submission made by the counsel for the CBSE that it may not be possible for the board with limited funds and poor staff strength to have effective control over the schools, the judge said, “It is not enough that the CBSE issues circulars to follow only NCERT prescribed subjects. But, the CBSE should have a mechanism to make inspection to verify whether schools are following the NCERT prescribed subjects and the circular is followed in its letter and spirit.”

To enable the CBSE to have a mechanism for random inspection and to verify whether all the schools under it are following the NCERT syllabus alone, Justice Kirubakaran directed the Assistant Solicitor General to receive instructions from the Centre on when and how much funds would be provided to augment the manpower required to evolve a mechanism of having a tab on all CBSE-affiliated schools. He then posted the case for further hearing to March 27. 

The petitioner had submitted that the NCERT syllabus prescribed only three subjects for Class 1 under CBSE — mother tongue, English and mathematics. But even Class 1 children are forced to study eight subjects, including computer science, general knowledge and Hindi.